Description
Classic Napoleon Cake is a delightful dessert made with layers of flaky puff pastry and rich pastry cream, often garnished with fresh raspberries and powdered sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
- Flour, for dusting
- 500 ml (2 cups) whole milk
- 120 g (½ cup) sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 40 g (⅓ cup) cornstarch
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 200 ml (¾ cup) heavy cream (whipped, for folding in)
- 150 g (1 cup) fresh raspberries (optional)
- Crumble baked puff pastry scraps (for coating sides)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Roll puff pastry sheets slightly thinner on a floured surface.
- Cut into even rectangles (about 9×13 inches if full-sized).
- Prick all over with a fork to prevent puffing.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Cool completely, then trim edges for neat layers. Save scraps for crumbling later.
- Heat milk in a saucepan until just steaming.
- In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until pale and smooth.
- Slowly pour hot milk into egg mixture while whisking.
- Return to saucepan, cook over medium heat until thick.
- Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla.
- Cover with plastic wrap touching surface, let cool completely.
- Once cooled, fold in whipped cream for a lighter texture.
- Place one pastry sheet on a serving tray. Spread a thick layer of pastry cream.
- Add raspberries across cream layer.
- Place second pastry sheet on top, repeat with cream and raspberries.
- Continue layering until all sheets are used (typically 3–4 layers).
- Spread remaining cream on top and sides.
- Crush reserved pastry scraps and press crumbs onto sides of cake.
- Decorate top with raspberries and a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Chill at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) to allow layers to soften and flavors to meld.
Notes
- For best results, use high-quality butter and fresh ingredients.
- Chilling the cake overnight enhances the flavors.
- Feel free to substitute raspberries with other berries or fruits.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 100mg